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The sign which accompanied the PLSS.
It read
PLSS (Lunar Back Pack)
The PLSS was worn by all Apollo astronauts when on the Moon's surface. It
maintained their spacesuit pressure, temperature, humidity, and proper oxygen
level, as well as keeping the astronaut in constant contact with mission
control.
None of the PLSSes actually used on the moon were recovered; instead they were
discarded with the mission's Lunar
Excursion Module (LEM), which was usually left in a low lunar orbit to
eventually crash into the moon.
The PLSS on display here was the backup for the Apollo 16 mission, and
would have been used on the moon if one of the two primary units had failed
before launch.
Actually, the PLSSes, along with various other no-longer-needed equipment such
as lunar
overboots, were jettisoned
while still on the lunar surface, shortly after the end of the mission's
last EVA. Getting rid of unneeded equipment reduced the weight of the Lunar
Module's ascent
stage, allowing the astronauts to return more lunar samples and reducing
the amount of fuel required to return to lunar orbit.
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